Gemotions

Coach Thompson slammed the file shut, the sound echoing through his otherwise silent house. The quiet of the evening was a suffocating blanket, amplifying the tension coiled within him.

He ran a hand over his face, feeling the rough stubble against his skin. He couldn't shake the image of Emily's beaming smile, her dedication, the way she never gave up. She deserved a place on the team, he knew it. But there simply weren't enough spots.

He rose from the chair, restless, pacing the length of the living room, a prisoner in his own home. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid doing little to soothe the turmoil within.